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NL Outcry in Iraq: meeting rule of law and religion about to legalise child marriages
Photo: the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad - Flickr A new proposal for a law change in Iraq harbours the chance of legalising child marriages. It concerns the ''Personal Status Law'' No 188 from 1959 that regulates matters surrounding marriage, custody and general family law in Iraq. The proposed amendment to the law will require married couples to obtain a [...]
Rivals Hamas and Fatah strike deal: what does it mean for Palestine?
Photo: Palestinian flags at the grave of Yasser Arafat, co-founder of Fatah - Flickr On Tuesday 23 July, 14 Palestinian parties, including the rival factions Hamas and Fatah, signed an important declaration of 'national unity' in Beijing. This agreement, which was brokered by China, calls for a unity government to rebuild Gaza [...]
Western Sahara: British MPs embrace Moroccan plan, but at what price?
Photo: A Sahrawi with the flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic - Wikimedia Commons On 25 May, 30 British MPs, mostly from the ruling Conservative Party, called on the British government to support Morocco's proposal for Western Sahara governance. This so-called Moroccan autonomy plan, proposed in 2006, offers Rabat control over [...]
Kuwait in political fray: emir dissolves parliament and grabs authority
Photo: First session of the Kuwaiti parliament after elections on 2 February, 2012 - Flickr In an unprecedented move, the emir of Kuwait, Mishal al-Ahmed Al Sabah, dissolved the country's parliament for a period of no less than four years. He also invalidated several articles of the Constitution. As a result, [...]
Opinion: Better late than never: Netherlands should really restore UNRWA support now
Photo: A Palestinian woman and children check the rubble of a building hit overnight by an Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on 20 April 2024 - Arab News This opinion piece originally appeared on Joop - BNNVARA Between October 2023 and February 2024, the war [...]
War in Gaza: how does the region now view the West?
Photo: People with Palestinian flags protest on the streets in Rabat, Morocco - Pexels As the war in Gaza unfolds and human suffering increases, there is still no unequivocal call from the international community for a ceasefire. The Middle East is observing this development with increasing amazement. It is easy to get lost in the [...]
Oppression of Tunisian political dissidents: opposition leader sentenced to three years in prison
Photo: Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda party - Flickr On 31 January, Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouci was sentenced to three years in prison. Ghannouci, who is 82, is the leader of Tunisia's largest opposition party, the Ennahda Party. Ghannouci received this sentence over allegations that Ennahda received illegal foreign contributions. The [...]
Israel-Lebanon: a second front?
Photo: Meeting during Hezbollah leader Nasrallah's speech in November - Wikimedia Commons Hamas' attack on Israel, on 7 October, has caused increasing tensions and risk of escalation in the region, including in the Israel-Lebanon border region. (Air) attacks back and forth are claiming lives of soldiers and innocent civilians. Hezbollah [...]
In conversation with Egypt correspondent Eduard Cousin: "Due to huge inflation, poverty on the streets has become increasingly visible"
There are presidential elections in Egypt from 10 to 12 December. Incumbent president Sisi, himself brought to power by a coup in 2013, has stood for re-election. Economically, Egypt is doing badly and there is a lot of unrest in society about this. Nevertheless, Sisi's position does not seem to be in danger and he will [...]
Come too! Q&A with Eduard Cousin on the political situation and elections in Egypt
On Tuesday 5 December, at 14:00, writer and journalist Eduard Cousin will be our guest at the FMS to answer questions about the political situation in Egypt! Presidential elections are coming up in the country (10-12 December), in addition the country is also in the spotlight because of the war between Israel and Hamas. Eduard [...]